What Causes Loss of Sense of Touch?

What Causes Loss Of Sense Of Touch?

Loss of sense of touch can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'worrying' to 'serious'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

Diagnose your symptoms now!

see your health summarized and in detail
have a doctor review your case (optional)
learn what you should be doing right now

Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose loss of sense of touch, we could:

Research the topic
Find a doctor with the time
Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "loss of sense of touch" as a symptom. Here are two possibilities:

Neuritis/Neuropathy
Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

low lymphocyte count

extreme sensitivity to touch

heaviness of the legs

severe muscle weakness

inability to tell hot from cold

facial burning/tingling

loss of sensation

much reduced sense of smell

reduced sense of taste

voice change

occasionally feeling unusually cold

numb/burning/tingling extremities

... and more than 10 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of loss of sense of touch:

Cause	Probability	Status
Guillain-Barre Syndrome	91%	Confirm
Neuritis/Neuropathy	72%	Possible

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate unusual skin sensations, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:

If you have experienced a loss or reduction in your sense of touch, when was it?

Possible responses:

→ Don't know
→ In the past only, now resolved
→ It started more than 12 months ago
→ It started between 1 and 12 months ago
→ It started less than 1 month ago

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate past loss of sense of touch, loss of sense of touch or recent loss of sense of touch, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

Guillain-Barre Syndrome

The sensory symptoms make themselves felt as the sensory nerves are attacked. The patient experiences loss or reduction of the sense of touch, or abnormal sensations such as burning, tingling, pins and needles, 'ants under the skin', vibrations, numbness, etc.

Neuritis/Neuropathy

Nerve damage or swelling can make it impossible for nerve impulses to get through. This numbness may only affect a small area or may travel along the entire nerve, and it may be temporary or permanent.

Concerned or curious about your health? Try The Analyst™